Wright Micron

{{Short description|1970s British human-powered aircraft}}

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Wright Micron}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}} {{Use British English|date=March 2023}} {{Infobox aircraft | name = Wright Micro | logo = | logo_size = | image = Wright_Micron.jpg | alt = | caption = Peter Wright holding a scale model of the Micron | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Human-powered aircraft | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = United Kingdom | manufacturer = Peter Wright | design_group = | designer = | builder = | issuer = | status = | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = 1 | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = | retired = | first_flight = | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }}

The '''Micron''' was the second of two human-powered aircraft designed and built by Peter Wright, an engineer from Melton Mowbray, England.<ref name=AERO75/>

Wright had previously designed and built the Wright MPA Mk 1, which first flew in 1972. The low wing loading of that design affected the flight opportunities which could be made. The design of his second human-powered aircraft, the Micron, began in 1974 with the intent that it be robust and practical; to this end, it had a relatively high wing loading, thereby increasing flight opportunities.<ref name=SHERWIN/> It was also intended to be easily assembled and transportable in a glider trailer.<ref name=JAWA75/>

The Micron was of conventional configuration. It was a low-wing monoplane, with a very streamlined fuselage and a V-tail empennage.<ref name=AERO75/> The pilot sat in a recumbent position, pedalling a set of bicycle pedals, and powering a pusher propeller mounted on a pylon located near the front of the fuselage.<ref name=SHERWIN/> Power transmission was by a cable/roller drive.<ref name=AERO76/> The craft made extensive use of plastics, expanded polystyrene, and carbon fibre. The fuselage, tail, and upper wing surfaces were all produced using moulds.<ref name=SHERWIN/>

The craft was completed by February 1976, and involved 200 hours of construction time.<ref name=HPF/> A month later it was reported that the Micron was undergoing trials at RAF Cranwell, and was being hangared there alongside the Jupiter and Mercury human-powered aircraft.<ref name=AERO76/> There is little information available regarding its flight testing, however Brian Spreckley writing in the April-May 1980 issue of ''Sailplane and Gliding'' stated that it had flown, though no other details were given.<ref name=SAIL/>

Peter Wright later built a single seat Standard Class glider, the Wright Falcon, which is similar in appearance to the Micron.

==Specifications== {{Aircraft specs|ref=AeroModeller,<ref name=AERO75/> Man-Powered Flight,<ref name=SHERWIN/> ''and'' Human Powered Flight<ref name=HPF/> |prime units?=imp |crew=1 |capacity= |length m= |length ft= |length in= |span m= |span ft=76 |span in= |span note= |upper span ft= |upper span in= |upper span note= |mid span m= |mid span ft= |mid span in= |mid span note= |lower span m= |lower span ft= |lower span in= |lower span note= |swept m=<!-- swing-wings --> |swept ft=<!-- swing-wings --> |swept in=<!-- swing-wings --> |swept note= |dia m=<!-- airships etc --> |dia ft=<!-- airships etc --> |dia in=<!-- airships etc --> |dia note= |width m=<!-- if applicable --> |width ft=<!-- if applicable --> |width in=<!-- if applicable --> |width note= |height m= |height ft= |height in= |height note= |wing area sqm= |wing area sqft=134 |wing area note= |swept area sqm=<!-- swing-wings --> |swept area sqft=<!-- swing-wings --> |swept area note= |volume m3=<!-- lighter-than-air --> |volume ft3=<!-- lighter-than-air --> |volume note= |aspect ratio=40 |airfoil= |empty weight kg= |empty weight lb= |empty weight note= |gross weight kg= |gross weight lb= |gross weight note= |max takeoff weight kg= |max takeoff weight lb= |max takeoff weight note= |more general=

|eng1 number=1 |eng1 name= |eng1 type=Cyclist pilot |eng1 kw=<!-- prop engines --> |eng1 hp= |eng1 shp=<!-- prop engines --> |eng1 kn=<!-- jet/rocket engines --> |eng1 lbf=<!-- jet/rocket engines --> |eng1 note= |power original= |thrust original= |eng1 kn-ab=<!-- afterburners --> |eng1 lbf-ab=<!-- afterburners -->

|max speed kmh= |max speed mph= |max speed kts= |max speed note= |max speed mach=<!-- supersonic aircraft --> |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph= |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh= |stall speed mph= |stall speed kts= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |minimum control speed kmh= |minimum control speed mph= |minimum control speed kts= |minimum control speed note= |g limits= |roll rate=<!-- aerobatic --> |glide ratio= |sink rate ms= |sink rate ftmin=<!-- sailplanes --> |sink rate note= |lift to drag= |wing loading kg/m2= |wing loading lb/sqft= |wing loading note=

|prop blade number=2 |prop name= |prop dia m=<!-- propeller aircraft --> |prop dia ft=9<!-- propeller aircraft --> |prop dia in=<!-- propeller aircraft --> |prop dia note=

}}

==See also== {{aircontent <!-- include as many lines are appropriate. additional lines/entries with carriage return. --> |see also= |related=<!-- related developments --> |similar aircraft=<!-- similar or comparable aircraft --> * HMPAC Puffin * Malliga 1 * MacCready ''Gossamer Albatross'' * MacCready ''Gossamer Condor'' * Paxton man-powered aircraft * Weybridge ''Mercury'' * Wright MPA Mk 1 |sequence=<!-- designation sequence, if appropriate --> |lists=<!-- related lists --> * List of Human-powered aircraft }}

==References== <references>

<ref name=AERO75>{{cite magazine|last=Moulton |first=Ron |author-link=Ron Moulton|date=May 1975| title=Progress with man powered flight| magazine=AeroModeller|location=Hemel Hempstead, Herts, UK| publisher=Model & Allied Publications Ltd| page=294}}</ref>

<ref name=AERO76>{{cite magazine|last=Moulton |first=Ron| date=March 1976| title=Man powered aircraft| magazine=AeroModeller|location=Hemel Hempstead, Herts, UK| publisher=Model & Allied Publications Ltd| pages=144–145}}</ref>

<ref name=HPF>{{cite web |title=Other 70s Planes - Micron |url=https://www.humanpoweredflight.co.uk/page/human-powered-flight-other-70s-planes |website=Human Powered Flight |access-date=18 March 2023}}</ref>}

<ref name=JAWA75>{{cite book |editor-last1=Taylor |editor-first1=John W. R. |date=1975 |title=Jane's all the world's aircraft 1975-76 |location=London |publisher=Jane's Yearbooks |page=238 <!-- or pages= -->|isbn=0354005219 |url=https://archive.org/details/janesallworldsai0000unse_o5q7/page/238/mode/1up|access-date=April 15, 2023}}</ref>

<ref name=SAIL>{{cite magazine |last=Spreckley |first=Brian |date=April-May 1980 |title=Flying the Falcon |magazine=Sailplane and Gliding |location=Vaughan Way, Leicester |publisher=The British Gliding Association |volume=XXXI |number=2 |pages=79, 81 |url=https://www.sailplaneandgliding.co.uk/archive-item/volume-31-no-2-apr-may-1980 |issn=}}</ref>

<ref name=SHERWIN>{{Cite book |last=Sherwin |first=Keith |author-link=Keith Sherwin |title=Man-powered flight |publisher=Model & Allied Publications Ltd |year=1971 |edition=revised reprint 1975 |isbn=0852424361 |location=Hemel Hempstead, Herts, UK |pages=177–178 |language=en}}</ref>

</references>

{{Peter Wright aircraft}}

Category:Human-powered aircraft Category:Low-wing aircraft Category:Pusher aircraft Category:V-tail aircraft Category:Single-engined pusher aircraft Category:1970s British experimental aircraft Category:Unflown aircraft Category:Aircraft with fixed bicycle landing gear